SEHWAN / DADU: Scores of devotees continued to perform dhamal day and night in the courtyard of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine in Sehwan on the second day of the great Sufi Saint’s Urs on Sunday.

Literary, cultural and mystic music sessions were held in different parts of the shrine as thousands of people coming from across the province visited the shrine and many of them took part in spiritual rituals.

The three-day 774th Urs of the Qalandar started on Saturday. It will be formally concluded by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday, according to officials.

A music and poetry session was organised on Sunday by the culture department on the lawns of the Sehwan Public Library. Renowned artists amused the audience with their performances while poets presented their works in a magnificent manner.

Non-stop dhamal, spiritual rituals attract crowds of visitors on day-2 of Urs

The music and poetry sessions were attended by Additional Secretary Culture Abdul Ghani Mehar, Director Culture Saleem Ahmed Solangi, besides the participating artists, poets and literature enthusiasts in large numbers.

The poetry session was presided over by renowned poet Hameed Aas Babbar. Khalil Arif, Abul Udas Babbar, Gulzar Sial, Mir Shaban Mir, Masoom Bukhari, Tabish Bukhari, compere Sajjad Yousuf Soomro and others who recited their poetry and enlivened the gathering.

In the folk music session, artists including Hamraz Bhatti, Hamid Raza, Ali Raza, Shahmir Sargani, Anwar Zardari, Lal Bakhsh and Mansoor Channa enthralled the audience, who joined their dance on the tunes of music.

Speaking to the audience, Culture Director Saleem Ahmed Solangi appreciated works and performance of participants, and described them as “guardians of the Sindh’s cultural heritage”.

He said folk singers, poets and artists have been playing an important role in spreading the message of peace and brotherhood propagated by Sufi saints.

At the sidelines of the Urs, book stalls have been set up and Sindh’s cultural handicrafts put on display.

‘Sughar Kachehri’

A grand Sughar Kacheri (folk wisdom gathering) was held in the Shahbaz Auditorium highlighting Sindh’s mystic traditions, folk literature and cultural heritage.

The gathering brought together renowned Sughars (folk scholars and storytellers), poets intellectuals, writers, artists and a large number of devotees and visitors.

The Sughars presented captivating displays of traditional wisdom, poetic expression and folk knowledge, reflecting the deep-rooted mystic values of love, tolerance, peace and humanity associated with Lal Shahbaz Qalandar and other great Sufi Saints.

Speaking at the programme, scholars said that the Qalandar, through his lifestyle and teachings, preached eradication of hatred, extremism and intolerance.

He promoted brotherhood and human dignity. They noted that his message transcends geographical and religious boundaries and continues to inspires people across the world.

The speakers also underlined that the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar remains a symbol of harmony and spirituality for followers of all religions and people of different backgrounds.

The importance of preserving Sindh’s Sufi traditions, folk literature and cultural identity was highlighted by the speakers.

They stressed that literary and cultural events like Sughar Kacheri played a vital role in connecting the younger generation with their spiritual and cultural roots, ensuring continuity of Sindh’s peaceful and pluralistic heritage.

Prominent Sughars who took part in the Kacheri included Aajiz Lashari (Founder of the Sindh Sughar Folk Literature Organisation), Mohammad Qasim Rahmoon (from Tharparkar), Latif Jo Parkho, Sakhi Sughar Maula Bux Sheedi, Mumtaz Abbasi, Manthar Bughio, Roshan Koree, Fayyaz Hussain Mahesar, Sabal Narejo, Moharram Ali Halyo, Mir Sher Abbasi and Anwar Sagar Kandhro. The event was moderated by Mohammad Saleh Bughio.

A soulful session of folk music was also held where artists enthralled the audience with traditional pe­­r­­for­­mances.

The Sughar Kacheri and folk music gathering continued late into the night.

At the conclusion of the event, Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Qadri, who

attended it as the chief guest, appreciated the contributions of the Sughars in highlighting Sindh’s culture, traditions and spiritual values. He distributed shields and awards among them. The event was also attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner-II Dr Adnan Munir Taniyo, AC Sehwan Waqas Malook, AC Manjhand Asad Karim Soomro and AC Kotri Hasnain Raza Memon.

Stringent security arrangements were made for the safety and security of thousands of devotees and visitors. Drones were seen hovering over the venue and CCTV cameras were install all across the routes leading to the shrine.

Strict checking of people at the entry and exit gates and vehicles in the parking areas was being carried out.

Walkthrough gates were installed and the security situation was monitored at the control room.

Police, Rangers and intelligence personnel kept a close watch on the movement of people in and outside the shrine.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2026